Distributing-machine.



A. S. TREW.

DISTRIBUTING MACHINE. 'APPLICATION FILED AUG.25. 91s.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

.r l m. r m

W z'trmsses;

A. S. TREW.

DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.25. I9I3.

1,246,358. Patented Nov. 13, 191 7.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses: @W 66 E I Inventor, MT $4219.

ARTHUR S. TREW, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

DISTRIBUTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 191 '7.

Application filed August 25, 1913. Serial No. 786,546.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. Tnnw, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Distributing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to distributing ma chines, and more particularly to a machine for distributing cards, tickets, letters, and other matter, and comprises certain improvements in the machine shown and described in my pending application for Letters Patent, filed April 20, 1912, under Serial. No. 692,146. In that machine the cards, tickets and the like are struck downwardly from a container, and are directed downwardly through vertical chutes or passageways into suitable receiving pockets or apartments. In this machine, the matter to be distributed is ejected from a container and carried later-' ally by a conveyer to the various receiving pockets or apartments.

Broadly stated, therefore, the invention comprises a mechanism by means of which cards, tickets, letters and other matter, placed in a suitable container, can be ejected therefrom, one by one, and be carried by a horizontally traveling conveyer and deposited into receiving pockets, there being a series of operating keys corresponding to said receiving pockets, whereby the manipulation of a certain key, ejects a card or letter from the container, which is instantly carried to and deposited in the pocket corresponding to the key struck.

In order that others may understand my invention, I have shown in the accompanying sheets of drawings one practical embodiment thereof, which I will now describe.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section longitudinally, as if taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuit connections for operating the machine, this being an electrically operated embodiment.

The embodiment of the invention here shown for purposes of illustration, comprises a doublerectangular frame, 11. with legs 22, set upon a suitable base 3. At the end of the supporting frame is mounted a boxlike container 4, adapted to receive cards, tickets, letters and the like, which are moved forwardly therein by a follower, as 5, slidably mounted upon a rod, as 6, and drawn against the cards by means of a suspended Weight 7, at the end of a cord 8. The front of said container is open sufiiciently to display the matter upon the foremost card, as

at 9, and may be provided with a glass front.

An ejector 10, arranged to be oscillated across the front of said container by means of a solenoid, as 11, ejects the foremost card laterally from said container, in a manner well understood. Said ejector is returned to its normal position, as soon as the solenoid is demagnetized, by means of a spring, as 12, which bears outwardly against a pin, as 13, carried by said ejector. Adjacent the side opening 14, in said container, and through which the cards, tickets, or letters, are ejected one at a time, are two feed rollers,

as 15 and 16, between which the card is diand set edgewise therealong, is a series of flexible guide members, or vanes, as 24, comprising in the present showing six different vanes, designated 24*, 24, 24, 24 24 and 24, the outer leaves 24 and 24, being fixed in the positions shown, while the ends of the other vanes or members, adjacent the feed rollers 15 and 16, are movable by means hereinafter described, to open different guideways therebetween to the receiving pockets or apartments. Said vanes or members are spaced apart along their middle portions, as indicated in Fig. 3, and at their delivery ends they are turned laterally so as to successively terminate at receiving pockets or apartments, of which I have shown five, designated, respectively, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, provided with suitable followers designated, respectively, 25, 26, 27, '28 and 29', each yieldingly in sliding therebetween leading to the first pair of rollers 3132 and the first receiving pocket 25. Vane 24 with its short companion vane 24 forms a guide-way leading to the feed rollers at pocket 26. Vane 24, with a short companion vane 24, forms a guideway leading to the feed rollers discharging into pocket 27. Vane 24 with .its companion vane 24, forms a guideway leading to the pocket 28, while vane 24, with its companion vane 24, forms a guideway leading to the feed rollers which discharge into pocket 29.

The short companion vanes or strips, 24 24*, 2 4 and 24 as shown in the drawings, are short strips which extend, respectively, parallel with their respective vanes from points where said main vanes commence to turn laterally to their respective pockets, whereby to form a card channel or passageway to the feed rollers which facilitate the deposit of the cards into the pockets.

In order to further facilitate the proper discharge or deposit of the cards into their respective pockets or apartments, I provide a revoluble element, as 33,positioned at the opposite side of each pocket and adapted to strike the cards or letters back into the pocket as they are delivered by the rollers 3132.

As a means for continuously driving said feed rollers, 15 and 31 and said revoluble elements 33, said rollers and elements are mountd on vertical shafts, designated, respectively, 15 31 and 33 and are provided at their lower ends with beveled gears, as 15*, 31 and 33", respectively, which mesh with other beveled gears, as 15, 31 and 33, upon a shaft 34, extending longitudinally of said machine, and being driven by means of a shaft and beveled gear connection to the shaft 23, as indicated at 35, Fig. 2. The

small rollers, designated 16 and 32, are driven by frictional contact with the rollers 15 and 31.

The movable ends ofsaid vanes or members 24, are adapted to be moved singly or in groups to open the different passageways to the respective receiving pockets or apartments, by means of a series of magnets or solenoids, designated as 36, 37, 38 and 39, the armatures or ores 36, 37, 38 a d 39*,

of which are connected, respectively, with the movable vanes or members 24*, 24, 24 and 24 as indicated, said cores having coiled springs, as 40, attached to the frame 1, for drawing them outwardly into their normal positions when the magnets or solenoids are demagnetized. As illustrated in Fig. 1, solenoids 37, 38 and 39, are energized and their armatures or cores 37 38 and 39 are drawn thereinto, thereby pulling the members 24, 24 and 24 inwardly, whereby to open the passageway between vanes 24 and 24, to receive the next card or letter from the container, between rollers 14 and 15, and leading to pocket or apartment 28. In the present construction, with the circuit connections, hereinafter described, solenoids 38 and 39 are also energized so as to pull their respective vanes 24 and 24 inwardly with the member 24, hereinbefore referred to.

A series of operating keys, as 25, 26 27, 28 and 29 corresponding with the receiving pockets, or apartments, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, are provided, which keys are manually operated to control the proper circults to open the proper passageways to the respective pockets or receiving apartments. These keys, it will be understood, and as hereinafter pointed out, are connected into the different circuits and when moved by the finger they complete the respective circuits necessary to energize the operating solenoids.

I provide a magnet or solenoid, as 41 for controlling a circuit through the ejector solenoid 11, and another, designated 42, for operating a main circuit breaker. The operation of a particular key, therefore, completes a circuit which includes one or more magnets or solenoids which operate the vanes or members forming the guideways to the receiving pockets or apartments, there being a pocket corresponding to each key. Connected into the circuit, also, is solenoid 41 which controls the circuit through the ejector magnet 11, for operating the ejector immediately following the movement of the vanes which open the desired passageway to the desired pocket. At the finish ,of the movement of the armature or core of said magnet or solenoid 11, it operates to complete a circuit through the solenoid 42, which immediately acts to break the main circuit, thereby permitting all parts to be returned again to their normal positions.

These circuit connections and their operations are believed to be new and novel, and are most efiective in the successful operation of the machine.

Referring now to the diagrammatic view, Fig. 4, showing the circuits and their connections, I will describe their operations. A and B designate the main lines of a main circuit. The motor 20, for operating the machine, is connected into said main circuit by means of a connection through wires C-C, controlled by a switch C, whereby when said switch C is closed, said motor circuit is completed and the motor started. A switch D, in the main line A, is used to make and break, at will, said main line circuit at a point beyond the motor circuit C, and whereby to connect said main circuit through the machine, in order that its various operating circuits, which are controlled by manually and mechanically operated contact members, can be instantly put into action, in a manner now to be more particularly described.

If it is desired to eject a card from the container and the foremost card is to be transferred to, and deposited into the receiving pocket, leading to which the guideway is normally open, as when all the parts are in their normal or neutral positions, it is only necessary to strike key 25 which operates to complete a circuit from B to A through connections E, E key 25, and E which energizes solenoid 11, and causes a movement of its core 11, which operates the ejector 10, hereinbefore described. The circuit thus established by pressing key 25 is maintained, though the key be struck and released, by a circuit established around the key, through the lines E and contact points E", normally standing apart, but allowed to move together to establish said circuit by the movement of the core or armature 11", caused by the energizing of solenoid 11, which movement also moves contact points 43 together, and completes another circuit from B to A through wires E, E and E thereby energizing solenoid 42, which operates a main circuit breaker, as at E, which may be of any desired form, but preferably operated in oil, whereupon the parts are all returned to their normal positions by means of the usual springs.

If the next card in the container indicates on its face that it belongs in receiving pocket 29, key 29 is struck, thereby completing a circuit from B to A, through F, and F, and energizing solenoids 36, 37, 38, 39 and 41, the latter being the controlling solenoid for the circuit through the ejector solenoid. With the movement of the core 36 of solenoid 36, its opposite end, 36*, moves together two contact points 45 and at the same time permits contacts ,46 to open, thus establishing a circuit from B, through F contact members 45, and F to F, which makes it possible to release key 29 without breaking the circuit on the key, which would cause a spark at the key, which would be objectionable. In other words, by striking a key, the circuits mentioned are established. the functions are performed, and the circuits are afterward broken and all parts returned to their normal positions. There is one of these through F,

retaining circuits provided for each of the solenoids 36, 37, 38 and 39, connecting line F with F, and designated, respectively as follows:

For solenoid 37, it comprises F, with contacts 46 and 47, and F. For solenoid 38, it comprisese F with contacts 48 and 49, and F For solenoid 39 it comprises F, with contacts 50 and 51, and F These connections between line F and F operate, respectively, when their respective keys are pressed, to establish a circuit around the key, in order to permit the instant release of the key. Each of the solenoids or magnets moves its particular vane or member, whereby to open the proper passageway, said movable vanes being designated respectively, as 24 24, 24 and 24, and connected at their movable ends to the armatures or cores of said magnets or solenoids. The rearmost vane 24 is stationary, and the passageway formed between it and vane 24", leads to receiving pocket 29. The passageway between members 24 and 24, shown in Fig. l as open to receive a card from the container, leadsto receiving pocket 28.

With the energizing of any or all of the operating solenoids of the distributer, s0lenoid 41 is also energized, moving its core 41 so that the opposite end 41 thereof moves contact members 44 together, completing a circuit through line E, E and E, and energizing the ejector solenoid 11, which operates the ejector to eject a card from the container. The movement of the core 6 of said ejector solenoid 11, operates to move contact members 43 together, thereby completing a circuit through E, E, E between B and A, and energizing solenoid 42, which operates the main circuit breaker at E, whereupon all of the parts are automatically returned to their normal positions under the action of their respective springs.

If the next card in the container belongs in receiving pocket 28, key 28 is pressed, thereby completing a circuit from B to A F key 28 and F, which energizes solenoids 37, 38, 39 and 41, as before. Solenoid 36 is not energized for the reason that its key 29' is open, as is also contact points 45. The pressing of key 28 operates to energize the solenoids mentioned, and to move their cores which operate to close contact points 47, 49 and 51, but permit contact points 48 and 50 to open. Solenoid 36 not being energized, contact points 46 remain closed, and a retaining circuit is thus established from F to F through F, points 46 and 47 and F which retains the connection established by pressing the key, though the key 28 is instantly released. The solenoid 41, and the ejector solenoid 11 and the circuit breaker solenoid 42, perform their respective functions successively, as hereinbefore referred to.

If the next card should properly belong in receiving pocket 27, key 27 is pressed, thereby completing a circuit from B to A through F, F, key 27 F and F, whereupon solenoids 88, 39 and 41 are energized, as before. Solenoids 36 and 37 are dead for the reason that their keys and also contact points 45 and 47 are open. The circuit around solenoids 38 and 39 and 41 is maintained, as before described, though the key is released, by circuit from F to F through F contacts 48 and 49-and F contacts 49 having been closed by the movement of the core 88 of solenoid 38, as before described in connection with solenoids 37 and also 36. The operation of the solenoid 41 is the same as before described, as also is the operation of the ejector solenoid 11, and the circuit breaker solenoid 42.

The operation of key 26 operates to deposit the next card in receiving pocket 26. A circuit is established from B to A through F, F, key 26, F and F, energizing solenoids 39 and 41, as before. The circuit is maintained, though the key be not held down, through a circuit established through F points 50, F points 51 and F, the points 51 having been closed by the movement of the solenoid core 39", as before described, and contact points 50 remaining closed for the reason that solenoids 38, 37 and 36 are energized. tion, as before, as does the ejector solenoid in operating the ejector and in completing the circuit through the solenoid 42, which breaks the main circuit, permitting all parts to be automatically returned to their normal positions.

The information on the foremost card in the container indicates in which pocket it belongs, and which key should be struck to effect its deposit in that particular pocket.

By striking that key, the particular circuit is completed and the solenoid or solenoids necessary to open the proper passageway to said pocket is, or are, energized. The controlling solenoid 41 always operates instantly thereafter to close the circuit of the ejector solenoid, which operates the ejector to eject the card on to the traveling conveyer, as

hereinbefore described, and also completes a circuit through the solenoid 42 for breaking the main circuit, to permit the parts to return to their normal positions. This cycle of operations takes place with the stroke of each key, and the action, in eifect, is as if the foremost card were struck from the container directly into a particular receiving pocket or apartment, and the cards can thus be struck from the container and deposited instantly in the proper receiving pocket as fast as the foremost card can be read and the proper key struck by the operator.

I have shown and described one practical embodiment of the invention for purposes Solenoid 41 performs its func-.

of illustration, but I am aware that other herein disclosed, the same will be claimed in 1 my co-pending application Serial No. 6159, filed Feb. 4, 1915 covering applicants more perfected type of machine, and which application, so far as common subject-matter is concerned may properly be considered a continuation of this case. The claims herein retained will be directed to those features of the machine distinguishing the same from said later machine.

I claim:

1. A distributing machine comprising in combination, a container, an ejector therefor, a series of receiving pockets, a traveling conveyer from said container to said pockets, elongated spring guide members adjacent said conveyer for directing the matter distributed to the various pockets, operating keys corresponding to said pockets, and operating connections from said keys to said ejector and guide members, whereby the manipulation of said keys operates said gjector, and deflects said spring guide memers.

2. A distributing machine comprising in combination, a container, an ejector therefor, a series ofreceiving'pockets, atraveling conveyer from said container to said pockets, guide members adjacent said conveyer for directing the matter distributed to the various pockets, magnets for operating said guide members, a source of electrical energy with circuit connections to said magnets, a series of operating keys corresponding to said pockets, and operating connections from said keys to said ejector and into said circuits for said magnets, whereby the operation of a key operates said ejector and a corresponding guide member.

3. A distributing machine comprising in combination, a container, an ejector therefor, a magnet for operating said ejector, a source of electrical energy with circuit connections to said magnet, a series of receiving pockets, a traveling conveyer from said container to said pockets, guide members adjacent said conveyer for directing the matter distributed to the various pockets, a series of operating keys corresponding to said pockets, and operating connections from said keys into said circuit connections and to said guide members, whereby the manipulation of said keys operates said ejector and said guide members.

4. A distributing machine comprising in combination, a container, an ejector therefor, a magnet for operating said ejector, a

series of receiving pockets, a traveling conveyer from said container to said pockets, guide members adjacent said conveyer for directing the matter distributed to the various pockets, magnets for moving said guide members, a source of electrical energy with circuit connections to all of said magnets, and a series of operating keys corresponding to said pockets and having connections into said magnet circuits, whereby the manipulation of said keys operates said ejector and said guide members, for the. purpose referred to.

5. In a distributing machine for cards, letters and the like, in combination, a container, an ejector for said container, a horizontally traveling conveyer from said conta1ner, a series of receiving pockets along said conveyer, movable guide members adjacent said conveyer for holding said cards, letters and the like edgewise upon the conveyer, said guide members leading to the various pockets, means for operating said ejector and said guide members, a series of operating finger keys, and operative connections from said keys to the means for operating said ejector and said guide members, for the purpose referred to.

6. In a distributing machine for cards, letters and the like, in combination, a container, an ejector for said container, a horizontally traveling conveyer leading from said container, a series of receiving pockets adjacent said conveyer, means supporting said cards and letters edgewise while being conveyed by said conveyer, means for guid ing them from the conveyer to the various receiving pockets, a series of operating keys corresponding to the various pockets, and operative connections from said keys to said ejector and to the guiding means, whereby the manipulation of said keys operates said ejector and said guiding means, for the purpose referred to.

7 In a card distributing machine of the character referred to, in combination, a container, an electrically operated ejector therefor, a series of receiving pockets, a horizontally traveling conveyer from said container to said pockets, movable guide members along said conveyer for holding said cards edgewise and directing them to the various receiving pockets, electrically operated means for moving some of said guide members, a source of electrical energy with circuit connections for the electrically operated mechanism, and a series of finger keys corresponding to said pockets, and having controlling connections into said circuit connections, whereby the operation of said keys operates said ejector and said guide members.

8. In a card distributing machine, in combination, a container, an ejector therefor, a series of receiving pockets, a horizontally traveling conveyer from said container to said pockets, vertically disposed guide members adjacent said conveyer for holding said cards edgewise while being conveyed by said conveyer, said guide members leading to the various receiving pockets and some of them being movable, a source of electrical energy, magnets for operating said ejector and said movable guide members, circuit connections therefor with said source of electrical energy, a series of operating keys corresponding with said receiving pockets, and controlling connections from said keys into said circuit connections, whereby the manipulation of said keys operates said ejector and said movable guide members.

9. In a card distributing machine, in combination, a container, an ejector therefor, a series of receiving pockets, a horizontally traveling conveyer from said container to said pockets, a series of movable guide members set edgewise above said conveyer at a space apart, whereby to provide guideways to said pockets and through which said cards are carried edgewise by said conveyer, a series of operating keys corresponding to said pockets, and operating connections between said keys and said ejector and said movable guide members, whereby the manipulation of said keys operates said ejector and said guide members, for the purpose referred to.

10. In a card distributing machine, in combination, a container, an ejector therefor, a series of receiving pockets, a horizontally traveling conveyer from said container to said pockets, a series of movable guide members set edgewise above said conveyer, whereby to provide guideways to said receiving pockets and through which said cards are carried edgewise by said conveyer, a series of operating keys corresponding to said pockets, magnets for operating said ejector and said guide members, a source of electrical energy with circuit connections.

to said magnets, and operating connections from said keys into said circuit connections, for the purpose referred to.

11. In a distributing machine of the character described, in combination, a container, an ejector therefor, a series of receiving pockets, distributing mechanism between said container and said pockets, a main circuit with circuit breaker therein, parallel connecting circuits across said main circuit and having circuit making and breaking devices therein, an electromagnet for operating said main circuit breaker included in one of said parallel circuits, an electromagnet for operating said ejector included'in another parallel connecting circuit, and a series of electromagents for operating said distributing mechanism included in another parallel connecting circuit, with operating keys interposed therein for maklng and breaking their circuit at will, one of sald to close the circuit of the magnet which operates the main circuit breaker, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a distributing machine of the character described, in combination with a 00ntainer for the matter to be distributed, an

ejector in cooperative relation to the container, distributing mechanism and receiving pockets for said matter, of a series of solenoids with movable cores for operating said mechanisms, a source of electrical energy, a main circuit therefrom, a plurality of connecting circuits in parallel across said main circuit for energizing said solenoids, circuit making and breaking devices included in said main circuit and said parallel circuit connections, operating keys for making and breaking certain circuits at will, and connections whereby solenoids on one parallel circuit, when energized, operate to successively close the circuits of the other parallel connections for the purpose of energizingtheir respective solenoids in order until the main circuit breaking device is opened by its solenoid, substantially as and for the purpose described. v

13. A distributing machine for cards, tickets and letters, comprising in combination a container therefor, an ejector, a series of receiving pockets, an endless conveyer belt extending from said container to and along said receiving pockets, means for driving the same, guide members having movable portions and arranged immediately above said conveyer for supporting said cards, tickets and letters, edgewise upon said conveyer belt, a series of manually operable finger keys corresponding to said receiving pockets, and operating connections from said keys to said ejector and to the movable portions of said guide members, whereby the pressing of a finger key operates said ejector and a movable part of said guide members and opens a passageway into the corrd'esponding pocket to receive the ejected car 14. In a distributing machine for cards, letters and the like, in combination, a container with ejector therefor, a series of receiving pockets, guiding members from said container along said receiving pockets, some of said members being movable to direct the cards and letters to different pockets, feed rollers cooperating with said guide members and driving said cards edgewise there'- along, finger keys corresponding to said receiving pockets, and operating connections between said keys and the movable guide members for moving them to direct the cards or letters into the respective receiving pockets and movable supporting means on which the lower edges of the cards may rest in their travel to the pockets.

15. In a distributing machine for cards and letters, in combination, a container with ejector for ejecting the cards one by one, a series of receiving pockets, guide members from said container to said receiving pockets and adapted to hold the cards in vertical edgewise positions, some of said guide members being movable to direct the cards and letters into different pockets, means engaging the lower edges of the cards for passing the cards in vertical edgewise positions along said guide members, a series of finger keys corresponding to said receiving pockets, and electrical operating connections controlled by said keys for moving said movable guide members to direct said cards and letters into the different pockets.

16. In a distributing machine for cards and letters, in combination, a container therefor, an ejector operating therein, a series of receiving pockets therefor, means for supporting the lower edges of the cards, means for passing the ejected cards and letters in vertical edgewise position from said container to said pockets, electrically controlled means for directing said cards and letters to the respective receiving pockets, a series of finger keys corresponding to said pockets, a source of electrical energy, electromagnets, and circuitconnections between said keys, and said magnets, whereby the pressing of said keys controls the distribution of said cards and letters to the respective pockets= 17. In a distributing machine for cards andv letters, in combination, a container therefor, an ejector with operating magnet I therefor, a series of receiving pockets therefor, means for supporting the ejected cards in a vertical edgewise position, feed rollers for passing the cards and letters in the vertical edgewise position toward said pockets, movable guide members for directing the cards to the respective pockets, magnets for controlling said movable guide members, a series of finger keys corresponding with said receiving pockets, and circuit connections between said keys and said magnets, whereby the operation of a key causes the operation of the ejector and a movable guide member to direct the ejected card or letter to a corresponding pocket.

ARTHUR S. TREW.

In presence of R. B. FRENCH, P1P. Rooms. 

